Electric switch.



N0. 840,327. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. E. M. HEWLETT & T. E. BUTTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1904.

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No. 840,827. PATBNTED JAN. 1, 1907. E. M. HEWLETT & T.. E. BUTTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAYZG. 1904.

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N0. 840,827. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. E. M. HEWLETT & T. E. BUTTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. H EWLETT. AND THEODORE E. BUTTON, OF SUHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSlGXORS .TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A COR- POltA'llOh-l OF NET? YORK.

ELE

TQM? SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented. Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed May 28, 1904. Serial No. 210,165.

To all whom it may concern- Be it known that we, EDWARD M. HEW- LETT and THEODORE E. BUTTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful 1111- switch of this type which is compact in structure and effective in Operation.

To this end the invention comprises a novel organization, as well as certain novel structural features, all of which will be understood upon reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric switch constructed in accordance with the invention, the switch being shown in closed position. Fig, 2 is a similar view showing the switch open and the operating-magnet in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the switch, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the clash-pot valve.

The switch illustrated is of the carbon break type and comprises horizontally-disposed main contacts and cooperating cop er I and carbon shunt-contacts. The move le switch-contacts are mounted onpivotallysupported frames which are yieldingly connected and arranged so that in operation the final break in the circuit takes place between the carbon contacts. The main-contactsup portin shapec frame which straddles the switch-operating mechanism and carries the contact at its upper central portion. The operating mechanism comprises a plurality of magnets included in a common magnet-casing, and the lower ends of the arched frame are pivoted. to, the opposite sides of said casing at a point adj cent to the switch-base. This whole arr ngemcnt presents a very compact and efficient structure.

Estonia in detail to the drawings, designates a 54 ab of slate, marble, or other insuframe is an arched or invertedU-' latin and fireproof material upon which the switc parts are mounted. This of course may be a portion of a switchboard or an independent switch-base. On the front of this slab are located the contact-studs 11, whichv extend through the slab and terminate in threaded shanks provided with nuts forengagement with suitable terminals. The fixed carbon contacts 12 are electrically and mechanically connected to the studs by upwardly and outwardly extending arms 13. The magnet casing or frame above referred to and designated 14 is suitably bolted'or otherwise secured to the face of the support 10 below the contact-studs 11 and serves as the base or support of the frame 15. This frame consists, substantially, of a horizontal connecting member 16 and two downwardlyextendingparallel members 17, which are connected at their lower ends to the ma casing 14 by the pivots 18. The bri ging contact 19, which connected to the center of the horizontal member 16, is composed of a bundle of laminations of spring-copper or other conductin material and is adapted to close the circuit between the studs 11.

Rigidly secured to the upper side of the contact 19 are oppositely-extending horizontal contact-fingers 20, arranged inshunt to the primary contact 19. These fingers are provided with removable contacting ends and are composed in part ofspring material which is given a set sufiicient to bring the beyond the contacting face of the ends of the face of their outer contacting ends slightly 'laminations comprising the contact 19 when i the switch is o ened, thus causing the circuit to be broken etween the studs 11 and the fingers 20 after it is broken between thestuds 11 and the contact '19. The final break, however, normally occurs between the carbon contacts 12 and 12*; but if they for any reason are out of service the main brush is protected from injury from pitting and fusmg by the contacts 20. The movable carbon contacts l2 -are carried at the upper ends of vertically-extending arms 21, which form part of the spring-plate 22, which is pivoted at its lower edge at the point 23 to the upper side of the magnet-frame 14. v

Electrical connection is established between the movable carbon contacts 12 by Way of a strip 24 of copper or other good conducting material, which is secured on the tween-the contacts12 and 12 becomes en cessive or the movement of the frame 15 is connection between. the frames 15 and 22 any suddenness of' motion transmitted to theformer isnot communicated to the latter in the same de ee. This has the effect of increasing the ife of this portionof the switch by preser plate 22'. en, however, the canbon contacts 12 and 12. are brought into engage with an armature2'8, comprising ahonizontal" portion anda movable core, which armature is connected, by means of a crossbar-29' and end links 3.0, to the lower ends of the vertical. portions 17 of the frame "1'5. The coil of the magnet 27 may be included in any suitable circuit and when energized draws the armature 28 upward, and thereby rocks the frame 1'5about its pivots 18, so as to close the switch. By reason cfthe strong pull of the magnet 27 uponiits armature some means must be employed for preventing the contact 19 from strikin' the studs 11' with too- In or er to take 11- this blbw,

great aforce. we rovide a dash-pot 3'1, whic 1 is located in t e interior of the coil of the magnet 2?. Into this pot the core of the armature 28 is loosely fitted. As a result of' this construc'e tion when the magnet 27 is energized the air entrappediin the dash.- ot 31' iscom ressed and the blow between t e contacts is t iereby cushioned. In order to permit a rapid return of the parts to open position, the armsture 28 is provided with-a passage 32., which leadsirom the chamber of the dash ot to atmosphere. This ass'age is control ed by a valve 33, which 0 oses the passage during theclosing movement of the switch and by reason ofthe difference in air-pressure on its opposi e sides opens said passage during the openin movement of't'he switch.

In cider to maintain the switch in closed the resiliency of the spring. it

] illustrated in Fig. 1.

. hers 1'? of the frame 15. era'bly' covered with leatherorothersofi maposition, we provide a locking-toggle 34.

'which comprises a T-shaped or' equivalent link 3 1 an a pair of cobperating links 3 1*. The link 34 is pivoted-at the outer end of its central branch between projections extending from the upper side of the magnet-frame 1-4 and at the ends of its lateral branches to the links 34', which in turn areivoted at their 0 posite ends to. the vertica members 17 of the contact-supporting frame 15, thus providing a toggle connection between the fixed magnet-frame and the movable frame of the main contacts. This toggle is normally drawn into locking osition by means of coiled springs 36, locate on opposite sides ,of the magnet-frame and connected there with at their lower ends and to the lateral arms of the to le-1ink-34 at their upper ends, as clearly s own in Fig. 1.

Inorder to trip the toggle, the link 34 is provided with a centralprojection 37, which is'adaptedj to lie in the-pathof movement of a tripping-pin 38,: which is normallyheld by gravity in non-engaging position. This pm is actuated to trip the toggle 34 bymeans of the trip magnet 39, having a movable core 40, to which the pin 38 is secured by suitable pins 40 This ma et is'housed within the casing-1'4 betweent e closing-magnet 27 and the support 10; The coil of the trip-magnet may be included in circuit with a relay or other-device responsive to variations of conditions in the main circuit, or it may be included in circuit with a manual orot'her independent switch. When the switch'is'closed and locked, the parts will occupy the position If when in this position the trip-magnet 39 is; energized, the movable core 40 will be drawn upward and the pin 38 will be driven with considerable force against the projection 37 of the toggle, thus breaking it and allowing the movable parts of the switch to fall to open position under the force of gravity. It is apparent that the springs 36 in returning the toggle to l'ock-ingposition are not absolutely necessary,

since'gravityemight perform the same function, and w re these springs are employed they should not be so strong as to interfere to any appreciable extent with the action of gravity in opening the switch. The opening movement of'the switch is limited. by sto s 41, projectingi'rom the opposite sides of t e magnet-frame 14 into the path of'the mem- The stops are prefthe spirit and scope of our invention. We

therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific matter disclosed, but aim to cover'by t e terms of the aprpend edclaimsall'eqniwalent alterations an modifications.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. A magnetically-cntrolled switch comrisin fixed and movable contacts an arched supporting-framefor the movablecontact, locking devices for said switch-contacts, a release-magnet therefor, and a switch-closing magnet, said magnets located in a common magnet-frame, said locking device and releasing and closing magnets being housed between the vertical portions of said frame.

2. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, an arched si1pporting fra1ne for the movable contact, a switch-magnet and a releasing-magnet located in a common magnet-frame mounted between the vertical portions of said contactsupporting frame.

3. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, an arched supporting-frame for the movable contact, a switch-operating magnet and a releasingmagnet located in a common magnet-frame mounted between the vertical portions of said contact-supporting frame, and locking devices located on the upper side of said magnetframe.

4. An electric switch comprising'fixed and movable contacts, an arched supportingframe for the movable contact, electricallyactuated mechanism for closing the switchcontacts housed between the vertical portions of said frame, auxiliary fixed and movable shunt-contacts, an auxiliary frame carrying said movable shunt-contact, and elastic connecting means between said auxiliary frame and said supporting-frame whereby the supportin -frame actuates the auxiliary frame and sai shunt-contacts are maintained in engagement after the circuit is broken at the main contacts.

5. A magnetically controlled switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, an arched supporting-frame for the movable contact, a releasing-magnet and a switch-operating magnet mounted between the vertical portions of said frame, a toggle above the releasing-magnet for locking said contacts inclosed position, and connecting means below the switch-operating magnet and operable thereby to rock said frame to close the switch.

' 6. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, an arched supporting-frame for the movable bridging contact, a releasing-magnet and a switch-operating magnet mounted between the vertical portions of said frame, a locking-.tog 'le con nected to said frame above said re easingmagnet, a pin operated by said releasingmag'net ,to break said toggle, an armature for the switch-operating magnet located at the lower end of said magnet, and a link connectionbetween said armature had said supportmg-frameior closing said switch when said armature is drawn upward.

said shunt-contacts into S. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a supporting-frame for the movable'contact, and switch-operating means comprising an operating-magnet having its armature connected to said supporting-frame so as to close said switch when said magnet is energized, and a dash-pot located within said magnet-coil and arranged to retard the movement of said armature in closing the switch and to permit a quick movement in opening it.

9. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fxed and movable contacts, a supporting-frame for the movable contact, and switch-operating means comprising an operatingmagnet having its armature connected to said supporting-frame so as to close said switch when said magnet is energized, and an armature for said magnet fitted loosely in an air-pot within the magnet-coil, and a valve 9 controlling an outlet-passage from said pot arranged to close during the closing movement of said switch to cushion the blow'of the switch-contacts, and. to open during the opening movement of the switch to permit a quick switch movement.

10. An electric switch comprising a sup port, fixed main and shunt contacts, a main frame pivoted to said support and carrying a movable main contact, a supplementary frame carrying a movable shunt-contact pivoted to-said support and actuated by said main frame, and an elastic connection between said frames. v

11. An electric switch comprising a support, fixed main and shunt contacts, a main supporting-frame carryinga movable main contact,'a supplementary frame carrying a movable shunt-contact and connected from said main supporting-frame, a lost-motion connection between said frames, and a spring connecting said frames.

12. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable main and shunt contacts, supporting-frames for the movable contacts, a lost-motion connection between said supporting-frames, and springs tending to force engaging position whereby the shunt-contacts remain closed during the initial opening movement of the main contact.

13. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable main and shunt contacts, sup-' porting-frames for the movable contacts, a pin-and-slot connection between said sup-I prising fixed and movablecontacts, an oper- I at its lower ends to the opposite sides of said porting-frames, and springs tending to drawsaid frames toward each other, whereby. the shunt-contacts are held closed during the initial opening movement of the main contact.

14. An'electric switchcomprising a supporting-base, contact-studs mounted thereon, a movable bridging contact, an arched supporting-frame for said bridging contact pivoted to said base, a magnet for closing said contacts secured to said base between the vertical portions of said franie, a fixed shunt-contact, a movable shunt-contact pivoted tosaid magnet, and elastic connections between said supporting frame and said movable shunt-contact whereby the circuit is broken between said main and shunt contacts in succession.

15. A lnagnetically-coutrolled switch comating-magnet for the movable switch element located below said contacts, a locking-toggle for holding the switch in closed position 'located between said magnet and contacts, and a releasing-magnet for said toggle mounted in a common magnet-frame with said operatnag-magnet.

16. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed andmovablecontacts, an ironclad actuating -magnet for the movable switch element located below said contacts, an arched contact-supporting frame pivoted magnet-frame, and locking means connected to-the upper side of said magnet-frame.

17. A magnetically-controlledswitch co1nprising a base, a switch-operating mag-netanda releasing-magnet located in a common magnet-frame, fixed and movable contacts, a supporting-frame for the movable contact carrying said contact at its upper end and position located on the upper side of' said magnet-frame.

IS. A\ magnetically-controlled switch comprising a base, a switch-operating magnet and a releasing-magnet in a common magnet-- frame secured to said base, fixed and movi able contacts, a supporting-frame for the movable contact carrying said contact at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to the magnet frame, and an armature for the switchoperating .niagnet located at the lower side of the magnet and connected to said supporting-frame so as to close the v switch when said magnet is energized.

19. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising a base, a switch-operating magnet and a releasing-magnet ina common magnetfraine secured to said base, fixed and movable contacts, a supporting-frame for the movable contact carrying said contact at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to the magnet-frame, an armature for the switchoperating magnet located at the lower side ofthe magnet and connected to said supporting-frame so as to close the switch when said magnet is energized, and a lockingtoggle for holding the switch in closed position connected between the upper side of said magnet-frame and the cont act-support ing, frame.

20. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising a base, an iron-clad operating-magnet secured thereto, fixed and movable inain and shunt cont acts, and supporting-frames for the movable contacts carrying said contacts at their upper ends and pivoted to the mag net-frame at their lower ends.

'2 1. A magneticallpcont rolled switch comprising a base, an iron-clad operatmgmiagnet secured thereto, fixed and movable main and shunt contacts, supporting-frames for the movable contacts. carrying said contacts at their upper ends and pivoted to the mag net-frame at their lower ends, and an elastic connection between said supporting-i'ra1nes whereby the circuit is broken at the main and shunt cont acts in succession.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 27th day of May, 1904.

EDWARD M. HEW'LETT. THEODORE E. BUTTON. liitnesses G. C. HoLLis'rnn, HELEN Onronn. 

